An occasional series featuring questions from the public about vintage Heywood-Wakefield pieces
Recently, we received an email and some pictures from someone inquiring about a vintage Heywood-Wakefield chair in her possession. She was wondering if we could offer some insights about it. Unfortunately, we don't have archives from the original company, so are often unable to identify the model or its date of origin in these situations.
Given the “Heywood-Wakefield Company” label on the chair, it was made after 1897. That's the year the company was formed by the merging of the Heywood Brothers Company and the Wakefield Company, two separate family business up until that point. Looking at the limited photographic evidence, this chair appears to be a 1920s-era (or possibly 1930s) interpretation of an earlier 19th century style—but this is simply a guess.
In situations like these, we recommend seeking out a reputable antiques dealer, particularly one with specialized knowledge of vintage furniture. Dealers are valuable resources for this sort of information, as they can help identify the model and an approximate or even exact date of manufacture, and offer an appraisal.
